By Sarah Baafi
Ghana’s non-traditional export sector has recorded a significant boost, with earnings rising to $5.006 billion in 2025 from $3.08 billion in 2024, an increase of more than 30 per cent.
The figures were revealed at the official launch of the 2025 Non-Traditional Exports Statistics Report by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) at the African Trade House in Accra on Friday, April 17, 2026.
The Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, attributed the growth to the rising global acceptance of Ghanaian products. He said the sector continues to show resilience and holds strong potential for further expansion in international markets.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, praised the government’s trade leadership and highlighted the growing shift from raw material exports to value-added production. She described the report as a vital tool for both importers and exporters in making informed decisions.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said export diversification remains central to Ghana’s economic transformation agenda. She noted that the country has historically depended on gold, crude oil and cocoa, which accounted for more than 70 per cent of total merchandise exports as recently as 2023.
According to the minister, non-traditional exports now contribute about 16 per cent of total merchandise exports. Africa accounts for 30.36 per cent of these earnings, largely driven by trade within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region. She described this trend as a strong indication of Ghana’s growing competitiveness in regional markets, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stressed that sustaining this growth will require improvements in production capacity, quality standards, access to finance and the removal of institutional bottlenecks. The government, she said, is working closely with institutions such as the Ghana EXIM Bank and the Ghana Standards Authority to enhance value addition, boost industrial competitiveness and expand market access.
The minister also highlighted the Feed the Industry Programme as a key initiative aimed at strengthening the link between agriculture and industry by ensuring a steady supply of raw materials for agro-processing and manufacturing.
She further called on exporters, manufacturers and financial institutions to intensify efforts to drive export growth, noting that increased value addition will lead to job creation, stronger industrial capacity and improved foreign exchange earnings.
The 2025 Non-Traditional Exports Statistics Report, she added, serves not only as a record of progress but also as a strategic guide for future action, commending GEPA and Ghanaian exporters for their continued role in positioning the country more competitively in global markets.
